fhould be agreed upon between Great Britain and France, and his Britannic majefty fhould be ready to conclude fuch treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great Britain and France having fince been concluded, his Britannic majefty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the provifional articles above-mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have conftituted and appinted, that is to fay, his Britannic majefty on his part, David Hartley, efq. member of the parliament of Great Britain; and the faid United States on their part, John Adams, efq. late a commiffioner of the United States of America at the court of Verfailles, late delegate in congrefs from the ftate of Muffachufeits, and chief juftice of the faid ftate, and minifter plenipotentiary of the faid United States to their high mightineffes the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, efq. late delegate in congrefs from the ftate of Pennfylvania, prefident of the convention of the faid ftate, and minifter plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the court of Verfailles; and John Jay, efq. late prefident of congrefs, and chief justice of the ftate of New York, and minifter plenipotentiary from the faid United States at the court of Madrid; to be the plenipotentiaries for the concluding and igning the prefent definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated their refpective full powers, have agreed upon and confirmed the following articles: Art. I. His Britannic majesty acknowledges the faid United States, viz. New Hampshire, Maffachufetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to be free, fovereign and independent ftates; that he treats with them as fuch, and for himself, his heirs and fucceffors, relinquishes all claims to the govern ment, propriety and territorial rights of the fame, and every part thereof. II. And that all difputes which might arife in future on the fubject of the boundaries of the faid- United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the fol lowing are and fhall be their boundaries, víz. From the north-west angle of Nova Scotia, viz. that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the fource of St. Croix river to the Highlands, along the faid Highlands, which divide thofe rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Laurence, from thofe which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the north-westernmost head of Connecticut river; thence down along the middle of that river to the forty fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due weft on faid latitude, until it strikes. the river Irroquois or Caatraquy; thence along the middle of faid iver into Lake Ontario; through the middle of faid lake until it ftrikes the communication by water between that lake and Lake Erie; thence along the middle of the faid communication into Lake Erie, through the middle of faid lake, until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and Lake Huron; thence through the middle of faid lake to the water communication between that lake and Lake Superior; thence through Lake Superior northward of the ifles Royal and Philapeaux to the Long Lake thence through the middle of faid Long Lake and the water communication between it and the Lake of the Woods, to the faid Lake of the Woods; thence through the faid lake to the moft north-westernmost point thereof, and from thence on à due weft courfe to the river Miffif fippi; thence by a line to be drawn. along the middle of the faid river Mifilippi until it fhall interfect the northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of north latitude. South, by a line to be rawn due eaft from the determination of the line laft mentioned in the latitude of thirty one degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river. Apalachiola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint River; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along the middle of St. Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean. Eaft, by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river St. Croix from its mouth in the Bay of Fundy to its fource, and from its fource directly north to the aforefaid Highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from thofe which fall into the river St. Laurence, comprehending all iflands within twenty leagues of any part of the fhores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due eaft from the points where the aforefaid boundaries between Nova Scotia on the one part, and Eaft Florida on the other, fhall refpectively touch the Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean, excepting fuch iflands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the faid province of Nova Scotia. Art. III. It is agreed that the people of the United States fhall continue to enjoy unmolested the right to take fifh of every kind on the Great Bank, and on all the other Banks of Newfoundland; alfo in the Gulf of St. Laurence, and at all other places in the fea where the inhabitants of both countries ufed at any time heretofore to fith. And also that the inhabitants of the United States fhall have liberty to . take fifh of every kind on fuch part of the coast of Newfoundland as British fishermen fhall ufe (but not to dry or cure the fame on that island), and alfo on the coafts, bays, and creeks, of all other of his Britannic majefty's dominions in America; and that the American fifhermen fhall have liberty to dry and cure fif in any of the unfettled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Iflands and Labrador, fo long as the fame shall remain unfettled; but fo foon as the fame or either of thein fhall be fettled, it fhall not be lawful for the faid fishermen to dry or cure fish at fuch fettlement, without a previous agreement for that purpofe with the inhabitants, proprietors, or poffeffors of the ground. Art. IV. It is agreed that the creditors on either fide fhall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in fterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted. Art. V. It is agreed that congrefs fhall earnestly recommend it to the legislatures of the respective ftates, to provide for the reftitution of all ftates, rights, and properties, which have been confifcated, belonging to real British fubjects; and alfo of the eftates, rights, and pro perties, of perfons refident in diftricts in the poffeffion of his majefty's arms, and who have not borne arms against the faid United States; and that perfons of any other defeription fhall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmolested in their endeavours to obtain the reftitution of fuch of their estates, rights, and properties, as may have been confifcated; and that congrefs fhall alfo earnestly recommend to the feveral ftates a reconfideration and revifion of all acts or laws re(H 2) garding garding the premifes, fo as to render the faid laws or acts perfectly confiftent not only with juftice and equity, but with that fpirit of conciliation which on the return of the bleffings of peace fhould univerfally prevail: and that congrefs fhall alfo carneftly recommend to the feveral ftates, that the eftates, rights, and properties, of fuch laft mentioned perfons fhall be restored to them, they refunding to any perfons who may be now in poffeffion the bona fide price (where any has been given), which fuch perfons may have paid on purchafing any of the faid lands, rights, or properties, fince the confiscation. And it is agreed that all perfons who, have any intereft in confifcated lands, either by debts, marriage fcttlements, or otherwife, fhall meet with no lawful impediment in the profecution of their just rights. Art. VI. That there fhall be no future confifcations made, nor any profecutions commenced against any perfon or perfons for or by reafon of the part which he or they may have taken in the prefent war; and that no perfon fhall on that account fuffer any future lofs or damage either in his perfon, liberty, or property, and that thofe who may be in confinement on fuch charges at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, fhall be immediately fet at liberty, and the profefo commenced be difcon tinued. Art. VII. There fhall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic majefty and the faid United States, and between the fubjects of the one and the citizens of the other; wherefore all hoftilities both by fea and land fhall from henceforth ccafe; all prifoners on both fides fhall be fet at liberty, and his Britannic majefty fhall, with all con venient fpeed, and without caufing any deftruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrifons, and fleets, from the faid United States, and from every poft, place and harbour, within the fame; leaving in all fortifications the American artillery that may be therein; and shall also order and caufe all archives, rocords, deeds, and papers belonging to any of the faid ftates, or their citizens, which in the course of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be forthwith restored and delivered to the proper ftates and perfons to whom they belong. Art. VIII. The navigation of the river Miffffippi, from its fource to the ocean, fall for ever remain free and open to the fubjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States. Art. IX. In cafe it fhould fo happen that any place or territory belonging to Great Britain or to the United States fhould have been conquered by the arms of either from the other, before the arrival of the faid Provifional Articles in America, it is agreed that the fame fhall be reftored without difficulty, and without requiring any compenfa tion. Art. X. The folemn ratifications of the prerent treaty, expedited in good and due form, fhall be exchanged between the contracting parties in the space of fix months, or fooner, if poffible, to be computed from the day of the fignature of the prefent treaty. In witnefs whereof we the under-figned, their minifters plenipotentiary, have in their name, and in virtue of our full powers, figned with our hands the pretent Defini ive Treaty, and caufed the feals of our arms to be affixed thereto. Done Ceremonial of the Proclamation of Peace, October 6, 1783. Party of horfe guards were A drawn up about the gate of St. James's Palace, where the beadles and officers of the city of Westminfter, attended. I he officers of arms; ferjeants at arms, with their maces and collars; the ferjeant trumpeter, with his mace and collar; the trumpets; drum-major and drums; and the knight marthal and his men, affembled in the Stable Yard, St. James's; and the officers of arms, being habited in their refpective tabards, and mounted, a proceffion was made from thence to the Palace Gate in this order: minster, with white wands, on Clerk of the High Bailiff. High Bailiff and Deputy Steward. Horfe Guards. Knight Marthal's men, two and two. At Charing Crofs, the officer of arms next in rank to him who read at St. James's, read the proclamation, looking towards Whitehall; that done, the proceffion moved on towards Temple Bar, the gates of which were fur, and the junior of ficer of arms, coming out of the rank between two trumpeters, pre Knight Marshal's Men, two and two. ceded by two horfe grenadiers to Knight Marthal, clear the way, rode up to the gate, and after the trumpets had founded thrice, he knocked with a cane. Being asked by the city mafhal from within, "Who comes there?" he replied. "The officers of arms, who demand entrance into the city to publifh his majefty's prociamation of peace." The gares being opened, he was admitted alone, and the gates fhut again The city marshal, preceded by his officers, conducted him to the lord mayor, to whom he thewed his majetty's warrant, which his lordlip having read, returned, and gave directions to the city mar thal to open the gates, who attended him back thereto, and on the officer (H 3) of of arms leaving him, faid, "Sir, the gates are opened." The trum pets and grenadiers being in wait ing, conducted him to his place in the proceffion, which then moved on into the city, (the officers of Weft minfter filing off and retiring as they came to Temple Bar) and, at Chapcerv-lane end, the proclamation was read a third time. Then the city officers joining the proceffion ihmedately after the officers of arms, it moved on to the end of Wood; ftreet, where the crofs formerly ftood in Cheapfide. After the proclamation had been read here, the proceffion moved on to the Royal Exchange, where it was read for the last time, and the proceffion returned by the way of Gracechurchfreet, through Lombard-ftreet. The trumpets founded thrice, previous to, and immediately after, each reading. tled; but the complicated fate of the bufinefs in difcution has un avoidably protracted the negotiation. I have, however, every reafon ta believe, from the difpofitions fhewn by the feveral powers concerned, that they are perfectly well inclined to fuch a conclufion as may fecure the bleflings of peace, fo much and fo equally to be deûred by all parties. Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, I thank you for the fupplies you have fo liberally granted for the public fervice; for facilitating my arrangements towards a feparate eftabithment for the prince of Wales; and for enabling me, without any new burthen on my people, to difcharge the debt which remained on my civil lift. My Lords and Gentlemen, I carnefly recommend to you an attention towards promoting among iny people, in your feveral coun His Majefy's Speech at the Clofing the tries, that fpirit of order, regulaSefion, July 16, 1783. My Lords and Gentlemen, HE advanced feafon of the Tyear requires fome remifion from your long and laborious attention to the public fervice. The exigencies of that fervice may oblige me to call you together again at an early period; and I perfuade my felf from my uniform experience of your affection to me, and your zeal for the public good, that you will cheerfully fubmit to a temporary inconvenience, for the permanent advantage of your country. The confideration of the affairs of the East Indies will require to be refumed as early as poffible; and to be purfued with a ferious and unremitting attention. I expected to have had the fatisfaction of acquainting you, before the end of the feffion, that the terms of pacification were definitively fet rity, and industry, which is the true fource of revenue and power in this nation; and without which all regulations for the improvement. of the one, or the increase of the other, will have no effect. Then the earl of Mansfield, lord chief juftice of the court of King's Bench, fpeaker of the houfe of lords, by his majesty's command, said: My Lords, and Gentlemen, It is his majesty's royal will and pleafure, that this parliament be prorogued to Tuefday the ninth day of September next, to be then here holden and this parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the 9th day of September next. His Majefy's Speech, Nov. 11, 1783. 1 |